Drought

Shattered stalks stare

hopelessly heavenward

Dry grass crunches underfoot

Tongues bleed

Animals die

Promises of rain unfulfilled

The ground hardens as the hearts of rulers

Callous and uncaring.

Ramaphosa, Zuma, Mswati, Mugabe

Will fade into mahogany graves

Their indifference an epitaph

That brings no relief

No joy

still the rains delay

as the land shrinks in decay

harbingers of destruction

parading as Saviours

hold sway

fearing not the day

when that heavenly book will open

and reveal the names of those

who died in vain.